Fire-escape



(N Model.)

0. BLOSS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 302,232. Patented July 22, 1884.

UNITE STATES ATENT tries.

CHARLES BLOSS, OF BETHLEHEM, CONNECTICUT.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,232, dated July 22,1884.-

Application filed March 13, 1884.

To aZZ 1077,0717, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs BLoss. residing at Bethlehem, in the countyof Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fire- Escapes; and I do declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fire-escapes, the object beingto produce a portable escape combining simplicity, cheap.- ness, andcompactness of construction, and adapted to be readily made availablefor use, and to be perfectly controlled when in use.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View in perspective of afire-escape embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is aview thereof in verticaltransverse section; and Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one mode ofattaching the seat and arm ropes to the escape.

The frame or casingA of the escape is preferably constructed of band orwrought iron; but, if found desirable, it may be made of cast metal andin one piece. Drums B, located within the frame, are journaled uponshafts C, mounted in the side walls thereof. As herein shown,the frameis not sufficientl y deep to entirely inclose the drums; but it may bemade so, if desired. The periphery of one end of each drum is providedwith grooves D, the grooved ends of the drums being placed contiguous toeach other. The said grooves receive the pendent escape-rope E, which iswound from the ends of the drums inward, and which passes around andbetween them, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. By this involved modeofwinding the escape-rope upon the drums, suffieient friction isdeveloped to prevent it from slipping upon them under any weight whichmay be imposed upon the device. A lever, F, fulcru med within the frameupon I a stud, G, and located between the drums, is

thus adapted to be simultaneously engaged with the periphery of eachdrum, and to act upon them as a brake for controlling the rate of theirrotation, and consequently the de- (Xo model.)

scent of the device upon the rope. This is further regulated by afriction-block, H, composed of or faced with rubber,leather, orequivalent material, and secured to the inner face of the outer end ofthe lever in position to engage with the rope. Another safeguard forcontrolling the descent of the escape is a flexible tube, I, inclosingthe rope, and attached to the lower end of the frame by a clamp, J, asshown. 'Ihis tube is grasped by the hand, and by compressing it upon therope friction for retarding the descent of the escape will be developed.But whether used as a brake or not, thetube affords convenient means ofsupport for the person descending with the escape. Aside from this, thetube steadies the device upon the rope, and, for this same purpose, alsoa staple, K, receiving therope, is attached to the upper part of theframe. A seat-rope, L, and an arm-rope, M, form, as it were, a harness.The ends of the said seata'ope are respectively fastened to an eye, N,and a hook, O, respectively formed integral with and attached toopposite ends of the shaft C of the lower drum. One end of the saidarm-rope is fastened to the eye N and the other end provided with ahook, I, adapted to be engaged with the hook O aforesaid at pleasure. Sofar, however, as

the attachment of these ropes to the frame of the escape is concerned,it is evident that it may be done in a variety of ways, and I do notlimit myself to any particular means or mode of doing it.

Having described the construction of my improved escape, I will nowproceed to set forth the manner of its use.

The escape-rope is preferably fastened to the upper part of or to somepoint above a window-frame, from which it extends to the ground or otherlanding, and the escape is adjusted upon the rope so as to hang aboutmidway of the window. A sitting posture'is assumed in the seatu'ope, andthe arm-rope is passed around the body under the arms, and then engagedwith the escape, as provided for. This done, the lever and tube aregrasped and the escape swung out of the window and the rapidity of itsdescent regulated by the manipulation of the lever and tube.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself tothe exactconstruction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty tomake such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within thespirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure'by Letters Patent, is

1. A portable fire-escape designed to descend upon a pendentescape-rope, and consisting of a frame, drums journaled therein, andhaving the rope wound upon them for friction, and a lever for applyingfriction directly to the drums for controlling their rotation,substantially as set forth.

2. A portable fire-escape designed to descend upon a pendentescape-rope, and consisting of a frame, two drums journaled therein. andhaving the rope wound upon them for friction, and a lever locatedbetween and arranged to be directly-engaged with each of the drums atthe same time for controlling their rotation, substantially as setforth.

3. A portable fire-escape designed to descend upon a pendentescape-rope, and consisting of a frame, drums journaled therein,

and having the ropes wound upon them, and a lever arranged and adaptedto engage with the drums and the rope to control the descent of thedevice, substantially as set forth.

4. A portable fire-escape designed to descend upon a pendentescape-rope, and consisting of a frame, drums journaled therein, andhaving the rope wound upon them, and a lever arranged to engage with thedrums, and provided with a friction-block to engage with the rope,substantially as set forth.

5. A portable fire-escape designed to descend upon a pendentescape-rope, and consistingofaframe,drumsjournaled therein, and havingthe rope wound upon them for friction, means for applying friction totherespective drums for controlling their rotation, and a harness,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES BLOSS. \Vitnesses:

DIARY G. BLoss, SAMUEL L. BLoss.

